Wed. Feb. 22 

Words I never thought I'd be writing in 2011: The  Del Fuegos played two reunion dates at the Paradise in June and there they are again Wednesday Feb. 22 But they are. All four original members, who once looked like they did in this photo. Well, Ok, the Fueogs were initially a trio, had a drummer before Woody Giessmann (Steve Morrell), but Woody's the guy we know and Woody's the guy whose Right Turn addiction recovery center is benefiting from this show. The Del Fuegos - known for “Don’t Run Wild,” “Backseat Nothing,” and “I Still Want You” - were in the forefront of the roots-rock/garage scene in Boston during the '80s. I first saw 'em at a private house party, then all over town at Rat, the Inn-Square Men's Bar, the Channel, Jonathan Swift's, the Orpheum. That latter gig was when the Del Fuegos - who recorded for the prestigious L.A.-based punk/roots label Slash - had hit the pinnacle. But the brothers Zanes - lead singer-guitarist-writer Dan and younger bro Warren - were at odds and Warren split. Adam Roth came in for Warren; Joe Donnelly took over Woody's seat. Warren and bassist Tom Lloyd tried to keep it together, but the moment had passed. The band folded. End of story? Hardly.

No second acts in Amercian lives? Uh-uh. After disbanding in the late 1980s, the various members of the Del Fuegos have gone on to do some pretty cool things. 

Dan Zanes became a "children's" or "family" musician, writing worldy songs that appealed to kids but did not talk down to them and had the kind of rock edge Fuegos fans might appreacite. He earned a Grammy for his widely celebrated family album, "Catch That Train,"! and found himself at Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, the Somerville Theater (where he returns every year), and hundreds of other esteemed rooms. Zanes helped rewrite the possibilities of children’s music by creating an organic, folk-based sound geared toward family listening and participatory music-making.  He is known for a dozen recordings, several DVDs, and a handful of books, and is these days nothing short of a household name (of course, right?).  Always collaborating in a way that further extends the possibilities of his art, he has recorded with The Kronos Quartet, Lou Reed, Philip Glass, The Blind Boys of Alabama, the Pilobolus dance company, and many more.

Bassist Tom Lloyd earned a Ph.D from Caltech in Environmental Engineering Science, after which he continued his research on biologically mediated geochemistry of transition metals. Really. Following that, he worked as a consultant at McKinsey’s Los Angeles office, focusing on the intersection of media and technology in the non-profit sector.  After leaving McKinsey, Lloyd became the Interim Executive Director at My Friend’s Place, a non-profit center for homeless youth based in Hollywood. Today he works as an investment analyst at Capital Research. A classically trained cellist, Tom remains active as a musician, these days favoring the string quartet but always keeping a guitar handy.

Guitarist Warren Zanes - who I once transported from a gig in tiny back of my Honda CR-X ("I feel like the family dog," he said) - is now Dr. Zanes. He earned a Ph.D from the University of Rochester in Visual and Cultural Studies.  Having established himself as a professor and writer, Zanes then re-entered the music business when signed as a solo artist by the Dust Brothers, making his debut with Kings of Leon producer (and former guitarist for Boston band Face to Face) Angelo Petraglia.  Shortly thereafter he was hired as Vice President of Education and Programs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and named Visiting Professor at Case Western Reserve University.  With several books to his name and a third solo recording soon to be released, Zanes is currently the Executive Director of The Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, a non-profit started by Little Steven Van Zandt, and at work on an authorized biography of Tom Petty, for whom Zanes has done several writing projects.

Geissman started Right Turn in March of 2003 as a free standing addiction treatment program in Arlington. Woody once told me when he was a drinker, he spent his days with a flask practically strapped to his leg. Those days are long ago.. Through his experience as a creative person with a history of addiction, Woody developed a unique approach incorporating evidence-based treatment and an emphasis on the arts and creativity, an approach that remains at the heart of Right Turn Outpatient services. He's joined a number of fairly well-known musicians on tour to help them keep on the straight and narrow. No names here. Confidentiality and all. Right Turn's mission? To bring creative people together in a safe haven, where they can explore their art and preserve their creative gifts. Still active as a musician, Woody recently released a solo recording and remains a fixture on the Boston scene.

And, so the Fuegos - who once proudly plowed through bottles of Budweiser until Miller Genuine Draft signed them (the Fuegos ads were all over the 1985 Live Aid broadcast) and changed their taste in brew - are back. Here's a look at that ad: raise some  http://youtu.be/88cewhasU74
Show's at 8. Tickets: $25.
 

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